Applicability of the university of pennsylvania smell identification test (SIT) in brazilians: pilot study

The University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (SIT) is the most cited olfactory test in the literature because it is easy to perform and there is high test-retest reliability. There were no standardized olfaction values in a normal Brazilian population. Aim: To measure the SIT score in a group of Brazilians, and to assess the level of difficulty when implementing the test. Study design: A cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods: The SIT was applied in 25 Brazilian volunteers of various income levels who presented no olfactory complaints. Following the test, subjects answered a questionnaire with a visual analog scale (VAS) for the level of difficulty. Results: The mean in the sample of Brazilians was 32.5 (SD: 3.48) our of 40; this is below what is considered normal for US citizens. The level of difficulty was on average 26 mm (SD: 24.68) in the VAS, but it trended towards easy; 4(16%) participants did not recognize some of the odors under `alternatives`. Conclusion: In this pilot study, there was evidence of good test applicability; the score of the sample of Brazilians was just below normosmia. Further studies are needed to confirm the existence of differences between people of different income levels.

Sexual behavior and knowledge of sexually transmitted infections among university students in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Objective: To investigate the sexual behavior and knowledge about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among undergraduate students in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Methods: Self-reported questionnaires were used. Results: Most of the 447 students in the study were single (97.3%), in their first year of university (87.7%), and the mean ages were 20.4 years (males) and 19.8 years (females). Vaginal intercourse was practiced by 69.7% of males and 48.4% of females, oral sex by 64.5% of males and 43.7% of females, and anal sex by 18.4% of males and 14.1% of females. Use of a condom during vaginal sex was practiced by 80.4% of males and 74.8% of females and during anal sex by 47.8% of males and 30.0% of females. Knowledge of transmission of STIs was greater than 90% for HIV, syphilis, genital herpes, and gonorrhea; 63%-76% for HPV and genital warts; 30%-34% for Trichomonas and only 16% for Chlamydia. Only 25%-34% knew that HIV was transmitted by breastfeeding; 56%-60% knew that HIV was transmitted by anal sex. Conclusion: Many students engage in high-risk sexual behavior with multiple partners and use condoms inconsistently. Knowledge of the acquisition and modes of sexual and vertical transmission of HIV are strikingly deficient. (C) 2010 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Child psychiatry takes to the streets: A developmental partnership between a university institute and children and adolescents from the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Objective: High levels of domestic violence, mental illness, and alienation from authorities are associated with high incidence of children/adolescents living on the streets in low and middle income countries. The Equilibrium Project (Programa Equilibrio) was created to facilitate social reintegration through a virtual partnership between an academic psychiatric institute and highly vulnerable children and adolescents living on the streets, in group shelter with supervision, and in other high risk situations. Methods: Descriptive presentation of qualitative data and analysis of preliminary empirical data collected over a 24-month period. Results: Dialogue between academic professionals, street children, and city officials shaped The Equilibrium Project over the last 2 years. The program has progressively moved from a professional clinic setting to a community-based but protected activity center with recreational and professional services and an emphasis on linkage with social service agencies, city government and law enforcement officials in an academic research context. A total of 351 patients have been served of whom virtually all were neglected by their parents, 58.4% report physical or sexual abuse, 88.89% have been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, 40.4% drug use. After 2 years of operation, 63.5% (n = 223) successfully completed or continue in treatment and 34.8% (n = 122) were reunited with their families. Conclusions and Practice implications: Program development guided by consumer input led to a successful program offering professional services in a protected community setting that facilitates social reintegration by providing ""go between"" services integrating relationships between alienated consumers and formal psychiatric, pediatric, social service, and criminal justice systems. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Validation of the University of Sao Paolo Sensory Phenomena Scale: Initial Psychometric Properties

Introduction: Although obsessions and compulsions comprise the main features of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), many patients report that their compulsions are preceded by a sense of ""incompleteness"" or other unpleasant feelings such as premonitory urges or a need perform action`s until feeling ""just right."" These manifestations have been characterized as Sensory Phenomena (SP). The current study presents initial psychometric data for a new scale designed to measure SP. Methods: Seventy-six adult OCD subjects were probed twice. Patients were assessed with an open clinical interview (considered as the ""gold standard"") and with the following standardized instruments: Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition Axis I Disorders, Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, Yale Global Tic Severity Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory. Results: SP were present in 51 OCD patients (67.1%). Tics were present in 16 (21.1%) of the overall sample. The presence of SP was significantly higher in early-onset OCD patients. There were no significant differences in the presence of SP according to comorbidity with tics or gender. The comparison between the results from the open clinical interviews and the University of Sao Paulo Sensory Phenomena Scale (USP-SPS) showed an excellent concordance between them, with no significant differences between interviewers. The inter-rater reliability between the expert raters for the USP-SPS was high, with K=.92. The Pearson correlation coefficient between the SP severity scores given by the two raters was .89. Conclusion: Preliminary results suggest that the USP-SPS is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing the presence and severity of SP in OCD subjects. CNS Spectr. 2009;14(6):315-323

A university extension course in leprosy: telemedicine in the Amazon for primary healthcare

There is a high prevalence of leprosy in the Amazon region of Brazil. We have developed a distance education course in leprosy for training staff of the Family Health Teams (FHTs). The course was made available through a web portal. Tele-educational resources were mediated by professors and coordinators, and included the use of theoretical content available through the web, discussion lists, Internet chat, activity diaries, 3-D video animations (Virtual Human on Leprosy), classes in video streaming and case simulation. Sixty-five FHT staff members were enrolled. All of them completed the course and 47 participants received a certificate at the end of the course. At the end of the course, 48 course-evaluation questionnaires were answered. A total of 47 participants (98%) considered the course as excellent. The results demonstrate the feasibility of an interactive, tele-education model as an educational resource for staff in isolated regions. Improvements in diagnostic skills should increase diagnostic suspicion of leprosy and may contribute to early detection.

Description of Nosocomial Infection Prevention Practices by Anesthesiologists in a University Hospital

Kishi D; Videira RLR Description of Nosocomial Infection Prevention Practices by Anesthesiologists in a University Hospital. Background and objectives: Anesthesiologists play an important role in the prevention of nosocomial infections. In anesthetic practice, physiologic barriers are routinely breached, allowing patient contamination with microorganisms and the consequent development of infection. The lack of adhesion to recommended practices can facilitate transmission of microorganisms. It is important to describe prophylactic practices of anesthesia-related nosocomial infections performed by anesthesiologists. Methods: Structured questionnaires were distributed to be answered voluntarily and anonymously by anesthesiologists. Results: Among 112 anesthesiologists, 75% answered the questionnaire. Surgical mask is used by 95.2% of anesthesiologists, 96.3% wear gloves frequently, 98.9% wear sterile gloves for neuraxial block, 91.3% use sterile technique for central venous puncture, 95.1% wash their hands between cases, 91.6% try to maintain the endotracheal tube sterile, 96.3% discard the prefilled propofol syringe at the end of each anesthesia, 30% clean the vials before using it in the neuraxial blocks, and 19.8% clean the vials before intravenous use. Conclusions: Respondents showed good adhesion to practices of nosocomial infection prophylaxis and to improve them educational multidisciplinary campaigns are necessary.

Percutaneous ultrasound-guided renal biopsy in children - safety, efficacy, indications and renal pathology findings: 14-year Brazilian university hospital

Introduction: Pediatric percutaneous renal biopsy (Bx) is a routine procedure in pediatric nephrology to obtain renal tissues for histological study. We evaluated the safety, efficacy, indications and renal findings of this procedure at a tertiary care pediatric university hospital and compared our findings with the literature. Methods: Retrospective study based on medical records from January 1993 to June 2006. Results: In the study period, 305 Bx were performed in 262 patients, 127 (48.5%) male, aged 9.8 +/- 4.2 years. A 16-gauge needle was utilized in 56/305 Bx, an 18-gauge needle in 252/305 Bx (82.6%). 56.1% Bx were performed under sedation plus local anesthesia, 43.9% under general anesthesia. The number of punctures per Bx was 3.1 +/- 1.3. Minor complications occurred in 8.6% procedures. The 16-gauge needle caused a higher frequency of renal hematomas (p = 0.05). The number of glomeruli per puncture was >= 5 in 96.7% and >= 7 in 92%. Glomeruli number per puncture and frequency of complications were not different according to the type of anesthesia used. A renal pathology diagnosis was achieved in 93.1% Bx. The main indications of Bx were nephrotic syndrome (NS), lupus nephritis (LN) and hematuria (HE). The diagnosis of minimal change disease (MCD) (61.3%), class V (35.6%) and IgA nephropathy (26.3%) predominated in NS, LN and HE patients, respectively. Conclusion: Pediatric real-time ultrasound-guided percutaneous renal biopsy was safe and effective. The main clinical indications for Bx were NS and LN, the predominant renal pathology diagnoses were MCD and class V LN.

Emily Kame Kngwarreye and the undeconstructible space of justice

Selected as part of an anthology featuring best or most representative of 20th century art writing. Other authors in anthology included Benjamin, Greenberg, Krauss, T.j. Clark, Roger Fry, Stuart Hall, etc. Intended as US textbook. My essay featured as part of study day on globalism in art at Tate Modern. Essay itself subject of PhD thesis by Sally Butler of EMSAH and other subsequent commentaries.